Yard Stake

ABSTRACT

A garden stake includes a top portion that includes an elongate parallelepiped body having an open top and a closed bottom. The body has a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough. A flange extends outwardly from the closed bottom. A bottom portion includes a spike extending from the flange, away from the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a stake that can be inserted into the ground to support structures, such as trellises, yard signs, and the like.

Description of the Related Art

Many yard structures, such as trellises, are constructed from wood. When a wooden structure is placed on in inserted into the ground, however, over time, the wooden structure tends to rot, reducing the life of the wooden structure.

It would be beneficial to provide a device that can be inserted into the ground to support a wooden structure so that the wooden structure can avoid direct contact with the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a garden stake comprising a top portion that includes an elongate parallelepiped body having an open top and a closed bottom. The body has a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough. A flange extends outwardly from the closed bottom. A bottom portion includes a spike extending from the flange, away from the body.

In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is a garden stake comprising a hollow body having, an open top, a bottom, and a front face extending between the open top and the bottom. The front face has a first plurality of through openings formed therein. A rear face extends between the open top and the closed bottom, opposite from the front face. The rear face has a second plurality of through openings formed therein. A flange extends outwardly from the closed bottom and a spike extends from the flange. The spike comprises a plurality of spike faces having a wide end proximate to the flange and a narrow tip distal from the flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a garden stake according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the stake of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the stake of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the stake of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the stake of FIG. 1, with the right side of the stake being identical;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the stake of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the stake of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term “implementation.”

As used in this application, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.

The word “about” is used herein to include a value of +/−10 percent of the numerical value modified by the word “about” and the word “generally” is used herein to mean “without regard to particulars or exceptions.”

Additionally, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about” or “approximately” preceded the value of the value or range.

The use of figure numbers and/or figure reference labels in the claims is intended to identify one or more possible embodiments of the claimed subject matter in order to facilitate the interpretation of the claims. Such use is not to be construed as necessarily limiting the scope of those claims to the embodiments shown in the corresponding figures.

The present invention provides a garden stake 100 (“stake 100”) that can be used to support or secure structures place on an unpaved or uncovered surface, such as a lawn, a flower bed, or other permeable surface, such as soil. Stake 100 can support the legs of a trellis, a yard sign, or other instrument that is typically placed on or into the permeable surface. Additionally, stake 100 can be used to add support to a tree, a shade umbrella, or any other object placed or planted into the permeable surface.

Stake 100 can be constructed from a polymer or other non-corrosive material that will not deteriorate or decompose with contact with soil or other organic matter. Stake 100 allows materials that are constructed from material that will deteriorate or decompose with contact with soil or other organic matter, such as wood, to be erected using stake 100 and prevent or retard such deterioration.

Referring to the Figures, garden stake 100 comprises a top portion 102 comprising an elongate parallelepiped body 104 having an open top 106 and a closed bottom 108. Body 104 has a central longitudinal axis 101 extending therethrough. A flange 130 extends outwardly from the closed bottom 108 and a bottom portion 150 comprises a spike 152 extending from flange 130, away from body 104. The device to be supported is inserted into body 104, while bottom portion 150 including stake 152 is inserted into the ground.

Referring to FIG. 6, parallelepiped body 104 has a square cross section. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that body 104 can have a different shaped cross section, such as round. Additionally, top portion 102 further comprises a lip 110 extending around a perimeter of the open top 106.

Referring to FIG. 3, body 104 includes a front side 112 having a first plurality of rectangular through openings 114 spaced along a length of body 104. Additionally, front side 112 further includes a plurality of screw holes 116 extending therethrough. Each of the plurality of screw holes 116 is formed between adjacent through openings 114. Screw holes 116 allow a user to insert an object, such as trellis legs (not shown), into body 104 through open top 106 and secure stake 100 to the object by inserting screws through screw holes 116 and into the object.

Referring to FIG. 4, body 104 also includes comprises a rear side 120 having a second plurality of rectangular through openings 122 spaced along a length of the body 104. Front through openings 114 and rear through openings 122 are used to allow a clam shell injection mold without undercuts and to reduce the amount of material, redicing the weight of body 104.

In an exemplary embodiment, as can be shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, the second plurality of through openings 122 is vertically offset from the first plurality of through openings 114 to prevent over-weakening of the structure of body 104 in a plane perpendicular to axis 101 through any of through openings 114, 122. FIG. 4, however, shows that the upper two of the second plurality of through openings 122 are vertically aligned with screw holes 116 such that screw holes 116 can be seen through corresponding through openings 122.

Right and left side walls 126, 128, shown in FIGS. 2 and 1, respectively, connect front side 112 to rear side 120. In an exemplary embodiment, each of right and left side walls 126, 128 is solid, although those skilled in the art will recognize that side walls 126, 128 can have through openings formed therein.

In an exemplary embodiment, flange 130 is circular in shape. Flange 130 is used to stop penetration of stake 100 into ground, when stake 100 is inserted into the ground, such that flange 130 rests on top of the ground, with top portion 102 extending above the ground and bottom portion 150 inserted into the ground. Flange 130 helps to stabilize the object inserted into body 104 so that the object does not readily tip over.

Also, in an exemplary embodiment, spike 152 includes a plurality of spike faces 154 extending outwardly from the central longitudinal axis 101. Each of the plurality of spike faces 154 is triangular in shape with a wide end 156 proximate to flange 130 and a narrow tip 158 distal from flange 130. In an exemplary embodiment, four (4) spike faces 154 are provided and extend orthogonally relative to adjacent spike faces such that the plurality of spike faces 154 form a cross-shaped cross section, as shown in FIG. 7. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that more or less than four (4) spike faces 154 can be provided.

To use stake 100 to support a trellis (not shown), one stake 100 is used for each trellis leg. Stakes 100 are spaced according to the spacing between trellis legs and are hammered into the ground. A block having an outer perimeter larger than the perimeter of lip 110 is placed on lip 110 and the user pounds on the block with a hammer (not shown) to drive bottom portion 150 of stake 100 into the ground up to flange 130. The block is removed from lip 110 and the process is repeated for additional stakes 100, as needed. After all stakes 100 are inserted into the ground, the trellis legs can be inserted into the body 104 of each stake 100.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A garden stake comprising: a top portion comprising an elongate parallelepiped body having an open top and a closed bottom, the body having a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough; a flange extending outwardly from the closed bottom; and a bottom portion comprising a spike extending from the flange, away from the body.
 2. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the parallelepiped body has a square cross section.
 3. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the top portion further comprises a lip extending around a perimeter of the open top.
 4. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a front side having a first plurality of rectangular through openings spaced along a length of the body.
 5. The garden stake according to claim 4, wherein the front side further comprises a plurality of screw holes extending therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of screw holes is formed between adjacent through openings.
 6. The garden stake according to claim 4, wherein the body comprises a rear side having a second plurality of rectangular through openings spaced along a length of the body.
 7. The garden stake according to claim 6, wherein the second plurality of through openings is vertically offset from the first plurality of through openings.
 8. The garden stake according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the second plurality of through openings is vertically aligned with one of the screw holes.
 9. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the flange is circular in shape.
 10. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the spike comprises a plurality of spike faces extending outwardly from the central longitudinal axis.
 11. The garden stake according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of spike faces is triangular in shape.
 12. The garden stake according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of spike faces form a cross-shaped cross section.
 13. A garden stake comprising: a hollow body having: an open top; a bottom; a front face extending between the open top and the bottom, the front face having a first plurality of through openings formed therein; and a rear face extending between the open top and the closed bottom, opposite from the front face, the rear face having a second plurality of through openings formed therein; a flange extending outwardly from the closed bottom; and a spike extending from the flange, the spike comprising a plurality of spike faces having a wide end proximate to the flange and a narrow tip distal from the flange.
 14. The garden stake according to claim 13, further comprising a lip surrounding the open top.
 15. The garden stake according to claim 13, wherein the front face has a plurality of screw holes extending therethrough. 